[Foundation-l] Open question from an Election Official: on voters' elibiglity

[Jeffrey V. Merkey]

Aphaia wrote:

>Thank you for your interest on Election.
>
>Today I would like to invite you to an open question from me. About
>voters' eligibility. There is no discussion among three, mainly
>because two of them have been not available since the midst of this
>month, hence no opinion, there is no consensus based conclusion.
>
>http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Elections_for_the_Board_of_Trustees_of_the_Wikimedia_Foundation%2C_2006/En#Open_question:_on_voters.27_elibiglity
>
>I could rather say "we will do so-and-so because of lack of
>consensus", without bother you with my question, but even if I should
>say so at that time, I think it would be nice to know what kind of
>trends are found among us, the community from hundreds projects,
>people from hundreds lands and languages.
>
>Cheers,
>  
>
In America, only convicted felons loose the right to vote, and only in 
certain states. People on probation have the right to vote, and people 
from every social class and range of offenses have the right to vote 
(except for convicted felons). No "Concensus" of citizens can strip from 
any individual the right to vote in this country. This is because we are 
an "enlightened society", not the forum of the Roman Senate where 
splinter groups assassinate the emperor and and citizen or senator with 
views we don't like, or the Court of Queen Elizabet in the 1500's where 
you could loose your head for wearing the wrong color clothes on the 
wrong day or criticize the queen. I thank God America doesn't run this 
way, or most countries in modern times (except for a few in the middle 
eastern countries).

Ultimately, the finanacial contributors to the Foundation will vote with 
their $$$ to confirm your choices and practices. Banned users from the 
whole of Wikimedia should not vote. Banned users from a particular 
project should vtoe just not on that project. This isn't an article for 
deletion, it's board members for the community. All the communities 
should vote. I am glad you raised this issue because it shows exactly 
where you stand, and I'm happy to know it.

Jeff